sensitize

v., -tized, -tiz·ing, -tiz·es.

v.tr.

1. To make sensitive: "The polarity principle . . . sensitizes the observer to the coexistence of seemingly contradictory phenomena" (Heinz Eulau).
2. To make (a film or plate) sensitive to light, especially to light of a specific wavelength.
3. To make hypersensitive or reactive to an antigen, such as pollen, especially by a second or repeated exposure.

v.intr.
To become sensitive or hypersensitive.

[SENSIT(IVE) + -IZE.]

sensitization sen'si·ti·za'tion (-tĭ-zā'shən) n.
sensitizer sen'si·tiz'er n.

(sĕn'sĭ-tīz')
v., -tized, -tiz·ing, -tiz·es.

To make hypersensitive or reactive to an antigen, such as pollen, especially by repeated exposure.

A state in which the body is sensitized to particular stimuli, e.g. (1) certain individuals exposed to some antigens by a particular route elicit an immune response which may be antibody-mediated, particularly IgE, or cell-mediated which sensitizes them such that subsequent exposure to the same antigen elicits an allergic response; said especially of such exposure resulting in a hypersensitivity reaction. (2) The coating of cells with antibody as a preparatory step to some detectable reaction such as their lysis if complement is added. (3) The preparation of a tissue or organ by one hormone so that it will respond functionally to the action of another.

• active s. — the sensitization that results from the injection, ingestion or inhalation, of antigen into the animal. See also active immunity, active immunization.
• passive s. — that which results when blood serum from a sensitized animal is injected into a normal animal. See also passive immunity, passive immunization.
• protein s. — that bodily state in which the individual is sensitive or hypersusceptible to some foreign protein, so that when there is absorption of that protein a typical reaction is set up.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 4 meanings:

Meaning #1: make sensitive or aware
  Synonyms: sensitise, sensify, sensibilize, sensibilise
  Antonym: desensitize (meaning #2)

Meaning #2: cause to sense; make sensitive
  Synonym: sensitise
  Antonym: desensitize (meaning #1)

Meaning #3: make sensitive to a drug or allergen
  Synonym: sensitise

Meaning #4: make (a material) sensitive to light, often of a particular colour, by coating it with a photographic emulsion
  Synonym: sensitise

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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - gøre følsom, gøre modtagelig, sensibilisere
v. intr. - blive følsom, blive modtagelig

Nederlands (Dutch)
gevoelig worden/maken, bewust maken van

Français (French)
v. tr. - sensibiliser
v. intr. - sensibiliser

Deutsch (German)
v. - sensibilisieren

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - ευαισθητοποιώ

Italiano (Italian)
sensibilizzare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - sensibilizar

Русский (Russian)
делать чувствительным, делаться более чувствительным

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - sensibilizar
v. intr. - sensibilizar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - sensibilisera

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
使敏感, 使过敏, 使敏化, 变得敏感, 敏化

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 使敏感, 使過敏, 使敏化
v. intr. - 變得敏感, 敏化

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 민감하게 하다, ~에 감광성을 주다, 감작하다
v. intr. - 감광성을 얻다, 민감 해지다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 敏感にする, 感光性を与える

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يجعله ذا حساسيه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮עשה לרגיש, עשה לרגיש לאור‬
v. intr. - ‮נעשה לרגיש‬

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